Anybody know anything about these? My intention would be to use it for small yard switcher duty if I keep it. Are they able to pull anything? Reliability?
Is there enough room to add DCC/sound?
Thx!
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Helmut,
This switcher is a European prototype which is sold also in American guise. It is so completely un-American that I cannot understand why anyone would like to have it for an American layout. Further the boiler is very small so there is no room for extras. I have never seen one that was a good runner.
Regards
Fred
I had one of these years ago. Stay away. They have a plastic frame/chassis which always warps and plastic side rods and valve gear. Nearly impossible to do anything with this model even as a European prototype they were poorly designed.
J2m
Thx guys - I let it go. I kinda suspected it was something like that.
Fred,
I am not (yet?) a rivet counter as they say. I would not mind mixing stuff that would not have in RL. I know this is against the grain of many (most?) model railroaders, but I am after a different kind of simulation of railroading. But in RL I am pretty anal (at least my employees tell me so!) so maybe that is why I need a change of pace and do not feel the need to be that way in this hobby. It may change later, who knows.
Thx.
Pick up an an Atlas USRA steam 0-6-0. The loco is about the ame size but it has a tender. It would fit many layouts and was very common. There are also a few different brass versions.
Or if you want something smaller, look for a US Hobbies B&O 0-4-0. It was done both as a saddle tank and with a tender and they are not too expensive. I had the tender version once and it was a good runner. I like the looks of the saddle tank. Unfortunately I have gone to the dark side and my steamers area on ly PRR.
Weaver did a nice USRA 0-6-0 in brass and a PRR 0-4-0 in brass. Sunset did the USRA in brass. I have a Weaver 0-4-0 and it is a good runner too.
Hi everyone, I have actually a very good opinion of these, but I rework them. I clean and polish the gears and work on all the moving parts. To these I add German buffers, headlights and other details parts. Even an inexpensive decoder improves operation. They are not Lenz or Fulgurex, but they are OK and fun to work on.
All the best,
Miketg
I have never had one, so I can';t comment. However, I have 4 of the AHM/Riverossi C-Liners. I double powered them by taking trucks from other junquer units. I have one kitbashed to a B Unit. I added wire grabs and PRR style antennas and painted them in the PRR scheme (very very dark green).
they run well enough for what I have in them and are among my first diesels. They do run better with decoders. I usually run them as 2 unit sets. They often handle the transfer runs either to the C&J or to Shire Oaks during my operating sessions. They will handle a 25 car train on a 1 1/2 percent grade. However, all my cars have very free rolling trucks and most are not weighted beyond what they came as, and most are plastic.
